In Reply to: I'm a Saab guy but...my wife wants a Honda....., Andrew [Profile/Gallery] , Fri, 1 Oct 2004 20:13:37

We were in the same space as you -- smallish exterior dimensions, but safe, practical, and able to handle our 9-month-old child.

Rear seat room is going to be very important for you. Try putting a rear-facing Britax Marathon child seat in an A4 or S40 or 3-series. Not what you want. Also, you'll want to easily toss a good sized stroller in the trunk without fuss.

The 9-3 SS was just barely practical enough for our second car. We would never have picked it for our first.

The Accord is big enough on the inside, but its exterior dimensions are actually pretty large (too large for us). I'd prefer the more compact Mazda 6. Unlike the Accord or Camry, the Mazda 6 comes in hatchback and wagon formats, both of which I would recommend over a sedan for a new family.

I'll throw out a few more for consideration, none of which are very fun to drive, but they're worth looking at:

Toyota Prius. Small on the outside, huge rear seat room, practical hatchback format. Long waiting list.

Toyota Matrix. Even smaller on the outside, large rear seat room, very practical mini-wagon format. Amazingly efficient use of space. I choose the Matrix over the nearly identical Pontiac Vibe because the 2005 Matrix offers side curtain airbags that cover the rear seat, while the 2005 Vibe's side curtains are only for the front seat.

Scion xB. Even yet smaller on the outside -- shorter and narrower than my old BMW Z3. And yet the largest rear seat I have ever seen! It's like a micro minivan, with very good access to the rear seat. The downside is that the cargo space in the back is tiny. But it's worth considering. Apparently this car was marketed at Generation Y but has been selling to people with families.

posted by 63.205.18...

• I'm a Saab guy but...my wife wants a Honda....., Andrew , Fri, 1 Oct 2004 20:13:37
  • Re: I'm a Saab guy but...my wife wants a Honda....., MO, Mon, 4 Oct 2004 06:41:25
  • Of the three, Honda..., CWilson, Sat, 2 Oct 2004 13:00:48
  • Take my word for it. Do what the wife says. ALWAYS!!!!!, Kerry, Sat, 2 Oct 2004 11:08:35
    • Teresa?...... ;-)......, Mike Lynch , Sat, 2 Oct 2004 12:52:02
      • Teresa must be a red head. :), Schu, Mon, 4 Oct 2004 04:57:26
      • NO Mike........................, Kerry, Sat, 2 Oct 2004 14:49:50
  • safest sport sedans, ephemere, Sat, 2 Oct 2004 10:09:28
  • Re: I'm a Saab guy but...my wife wants a Honda....., Joe in Harrisburg, Sat, 2 Oct 2004 07:47:14
  • Re: What about a used 9-5 Wagon??!!!, Bruiser, Sat, 2 Oct 2004 06:03:23
  • Re: Best Choice, Bruiser, Sat, 2 Oct 2004 05:57:16
    • 2nd that ... CPO 9-5, SeeVTSaab, Mon, 4 Oct 2004 09:20:32
    • Re: Best Choice, ephemere, Sat, 2 Oct 2004 10:00:59
  • family car, ephemere, Fri, 1 Oct 2004 21:16:28 <-- Viewing This Message
    • Mazda 6 Wagon, EGD , Sat, 2 Oct 2004 03:04:07
    • another one, ephemere, Fri, 1 Oct 2004 21:25:31
  • Has she driven a new 9-3?, Ray L, Fri, 1 Oct 2004 21:10:35
    • Re: Has she driven a new 9-3?, Andrew , Sat, 2 Oct 2004 15:11:08
      • turning radius, ephemere, Sat, 2 Oct 2004 15:29:36
  • Re: I'm a Saab guy but...my wife wants a Honda....., Rick, Fri, 1 Oct 2004 20:31:02

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